People Think I'm Crazy: Rolling Stones, Luther Vandross, and Flogging Molly

"MISS YOU"    ROLLING STONES

My favorite Stones CD, Some Girls, was their celebration of New York City.   "Some Girls" crossed genres, new guitarist Ronnie Wood adds his famous slide guitar, and the Stones were experimenting with disco, country, punk, and the NYC vibe in general.  "Miss You" has those classic verses and Mick's signature delivery of lyrics like "I've been walking Central Park, singing after dark, people think I'm crazy".   "What's the matter with you, boy".   This song got the dreaded 'disco' label but it's just as much of a moody blues number and maintains the Stones rebellious attitude complete with a great sax solo by Mel Collins .    

"DANCE WITH MY FATHER"   LUTHER VANDROSS

Even if you had the worst dad in the world, Luther's song must remind you of someone special that you've lost and you wish you could have one more chance to be together.   The video is one of the best ever.   You feel like you're at a family reunion watching scenes of Beyonce, Brandy, Babyface, Stevie Wonder, and Damon Wayans (funniest part of the video!!!) with their dad or kids.  In addition, watching this video makes me miss the brilliant voice of Luther Vandross (died in 2005), another icon lost way too soon.  Fun Fact:  This song was co-written by Richard Marx

"IF I EVER LEAVE THIS WORLD ALIVE"     FLOGGING MOLLY

First heard this beautiful Irish love song during the Gerard Butler film, P.S. I Love You with Hillary Swank.    Flogging Molly are considered a Celtic Punk band yet they're from California and loved the Irish bar band sound so they went in that musical direction.   Their music is a combination of the Pogues and the Clash.   I'll never forget seeing the Hall of Fame Wall in Dublin, one thing off my bucket list!   

   

Rolling Stones Sing County?: The Rolling Stones, Simply Red, and Salt-N-Pepa

"DO YOU REALLY WANT ME"   SALT N PEPA 

Cheryl and Sandy (Salt N Pepa) and their friend, DJ Spinderella, became the first female rap group to go gold, then platinum, then do it again!   The first female rap Grammy Winners, on and on goes their legacy.   Summer jams like "Push It", "Shoop", "Shake Your Thing" can still instantly fill a dancefloor.   "Do You Want Me" is another of those 90's hip hop club bangers!  I wore out those S&P CD's back then.  

"SUNRISE"    SIMPLY RED

Shoot the video in Rio de Janeiro, perfectly mix in a sample of the one of the definitive 80's pop songs, and add in the underrated blue-eyed soulful voice of Mick Hucknall of Simply Red and you get an incredible pop video experience.  This was the perfect song to stump people back in the day, ask them who sings this song?  The Hall And Oates sample gives way to a familiar but distant voice.    The lyrics are hopeful, romantic, and it's a beautiful song to share with someone special.

"FAR AWAY EYES"   ROLLING STONES

My favorite Stones Era, the Mid 70's (Sticky Fingers, It's Only R&R, Black & Blue, Some Girls), they made CLASSIC rock but experimented with everything from disco to reggae to ballads to punk, even an old-fashioned country song like "Far Away Eyes".   This one comes from "Some Girls" and you've never seen or heard the band like this before, ENJOY!   Mick's crazy expressions and his laugh, Charlie's playful disgust at this song, hysterical!